SOUTH AMERICAN COCKROACHES (Blaberus sp.)

The largest members of this genus of cockroach can reach up to 3.5 inches in length. They range in colour from light, mottled brown through to very dark brown, almost black.

Habitat & Distribution:

These insects live in the leaf litter of tropical rainforests in South America.

Diet:

South American cockroaches are not fussy eaters. Their main diet is decaying plant matter such as leaves and fruit but they will also eat wood and even poo if nothing else is available.

Conservation Status:

Not evaluated.

Did you know?

It’s true – a cockroach can live for about a week without its head. This is due to the fact that cockroach bodies are wired up differently to many animals, including humans. Their blood pressure is not as high as ours meaning that they do not quickly bleed out as a result of decapitation and the blood around the neck can clot to cover the wound. They also breathe differently. Cockroaches breathe through little holes in each body segment known as spiracles, meaning they can breathe easily without their mouth. They also don’t rely on their brain to control breathing so breathing will continue even without the head. In the end, the thing which kills decapitated cockroaches is dehydration and/or starvation as they cannot eat or drink.

Cockroaches are some of the most primitive insects and have lived on earth for 350 million years!